The Archduchy of Rakrel

Rakhrel was once a piece of Septentrial, but by tectonics, it has become an island, halfway between Septentrial and Oriaka, separated by the Rakh Sea. Rakhrel is relatively flat, with a regularly rainy climate. The south is heavily forested, and the north is more mountainous. Main cities The capital, Sankre-dorz, is built on a small massif, the scarlet mountain, entirely sculpted to resemble a seven-storey fountain, surrounding the hill with a circular artificial canal. Sariem, famous for its lighthouse erected as an octagon, capital of the Duchy of the Occult. Solome, the ghost town, purged by the void and the ice. Seemingly empty, the inhabitants are just very discreet; and wait in hiding to massacre anyone who tries to enter the city. Gorhem, the city of willpower, a big city full of life, markets and taverns, but also one of the biggest vampire military grounds. Helsim, the ancient capital, the summit of the island of chaos and the last stronghold of the fallen prince, a strange city where icy streams of water flow through a city sinking under the ashes, from which fortresses dug into the volcanic rock are erected. Port-jardin, the most important port, located in the Duchy of Rage, is also the only town in the region, as Rage heretics live in temporary, semi-sedentary villages. As the region is entirely covered by forest, it does not favour the construction of stable and important buildings in any case. However, the port is known for its export of bloodwood, a solid wood intended for ritual furniture. Politic and culture Vampires are the most powerful creatures reigning over Krey-Maven, structured as a feudal monarchy around blood, and a cult devoted to demons. One must of course differentiate between these noble vampires, calling themselves sil-sankres (noble blood), mastering the noble arts and magic, and the race of wild vampires (Nox-sankres), who are nothing but bloodthirsty beasts. Some of them were once bloodthirsty killers; today they are pacifists, reclusive in castles in the mountains and in the Septrial region. Physically a vampire is like an elf, but with grey skin and blood-red eyes. There is also another form, which they take when they are in danger of death, or for power struggles, much closer to their beastly cousins, but still bipedal, and with wings. The castles of the vampire lords are gigantic monuments of stone and steel, spiked with spikes; but what is most striking is that several sections are large blocks floating in the air by magic, connected to the rest by chain bridges and teleporters. Moreover, vampires have always been obsessed with the arts, be it painting, sculpture, singing, music or theatre. They are masters of mixing art and occult magic called blood magic, bringing their painting and sculpture to life. Religion of the blood Tartarus is a vast, closed land, inhospitable as possible, between volcanoes, swamps with deadly, foul-smelling poison, shady forests, and the icy waters of the Styx. It is inhabited only by demons, creatures equivalent to the ethereal creatures of the astral sea. The main population is that of the devils. There are large cities whose architectural style is reminiscent of that of the vampires, because, like the astral sea born out of the Meridian imagination, the demonic plan exists through the imagination of the vampires. The centre of Tartarus is occupied by the largest city, pandemonium, housing the palace of the king of demons. The styx, in its widest branches, shelters islands where the access points between this plan and the others are located. The order of demons is very present in vampire culture. In the same way that paladins receive powers from the gods, vampires, who are called heretics, receive powers from the powerful demons they serve. Venturing into Tartarus gives the people of Kray little chance of coming back alive, but you can come back anyway, if the demons let you look for the way out, and you find it. As for coming back alive, that's another story. The hierarchy of blood and arts The people of the High Vampires are led by the Archduke of the Night Blood. In the past there was a prince, who ruled the vampire people with an iron hand; but during the blood war a vampire prince was ousted in favour of his Archduke. However, even today the prince and the principality continue to exist, and even have independence, on its frozen volcanic island north-east of Rakrel. The last prince of the vampires is also the first vampire to have tasted immortality, his name has been erased and his face sealed with his crown by an iron mask. Numerous legends say that the reason why his name is taboo is to honour that of the Archduke, due to treason. Others say that it is because the prince would change regularly, and that he would not in fact be immortal, and would change. Rakhrel is divided into a hierarchical territory under the responsibility of the archduke and five dukes appointed by an art competition between all the marquis, taking place during a blood moon (eclipse), whose judge is the lord himself. The competition consists of a vast art contest where only the five best in all fields will be chosen. Five dukes are chosen to rule the five dukedoms according to the five axes of the vampiric religion: the archduchy corresponds to blood, then come the dukedoms of chaos, rage, occult and will. The enclave of the void, located on the northern coast, is an enclave in the territory of the will, a seditious and extremely violent movement that has among other things the extermination or enslavement of all non-vampires; even for the most extreme, the destruction of the world. To become a marquis, one must be a count, or son of a marquis, who does not inherit it by birthright and must deserve it. During the new moons (which arrive only twice a year) an art competition is organised to be able to pass from count to marquis. To become a marquis, the count must present only one form of art, it is enough for the jury to pronounce a positive verdict, so in theory he can have as many marquis as there were counts. However, the entry fee for counts in the competition is based on blood, i.e. strength, the sons of Marquises are exempt. Counts, on the other hand, are only chosen by force and the right of blood, it is a fixed nobility, although a viscount can hope to obtain the title by gratitude for good and loyal service. The viscounts are chosen by the local count from among the barons, and sometimes the untitled people, and administer the towns and enforce law and order. The barons are elected by the inhabitants of a village to become its administrator, through duels of strength and votes by oral ballot. Blood magic Because of its magical and special nature Vampire blood enables many things, one of them being the transmission of powers through a ritual or a bite, resembling an illness of a magical nature. The severity and consequences depend primarily on the race (Sil-sankre or Nox-sankre) but also on the will of the victim, or the ritual setting. In the case of a lower vampire, all it takes is a bite or a scratch to have a good chance of contracting a rather peculiar disease, resembling rabies, which is transmissible but not very contagious. The victim will become sensitive to light, however he can be treated by a doctor, or by a druid if he realizes it within 72 hours. Beyond this period, the downward spiral begins, the second stage will be to want to drink humanoid blood, the victim will become weaker and weaker during the day, forcing them to live at night. The third stage will be the inevitable transformation into a ghoul, a hideous flesh-eating being, for which the only remedy is incineration. Should the vampire devour you alive, and leave you for dead, then the transformation is much faster, ravaged by the blood of the lower vampire, raising the corpse to the third stage after a few minutes. As the superior vampires take care of their hygiene and have a more powerful blood than the inferior vampires, they do not transmit the vampire disease, however, a superior can transform you into something more powerful by ritual bite; a damphir. Fortunately today the practice of performing this ritual of force on a victim is considered foul and outlawed by vampire society. Drinking vampire blood by yourself against the vampire's will is practically impossible, it will only consume you completely. If you survive the vampire blood ritual by having voluntarily requested it, you will obtain superhuman strength, noctalopia, your life is prolonged and you will keep your present appearance until your death, or even rejuvenate; and that you can part with the power of dhampir if you deprive yourself of blood within days after the ritual, however this will give you total immunity, including to the bite of inferior vampires, and will make it impossible for you to perform the ritual again. In addition, you will get some of the power of the blood, more precisely the sin that concerns you the most.

Structure

The people of the High Vampires are led by the Archduke of the Night Blood. In the past there was a prince, who ruled the vampire people with an iron hand; but during the blood war a vampire prince was ousted in favour of his Archduke. However, even today the prince and the principality continue to exist, and even have independence, on its frozen volcanic island north-east of Rakrel. The last prince of the vampires is also the first vampire to have tasted immortality, his name has been erased and his face sealed with his crown by an iron mask. Numerous legends say that the reason why his name is taboo is to honour that of the Archduke, due to treason. Others say that it is because the prince would change regularly, and that he would not in fact be immortal, and would change. Rakhrel is divided into a hierarchical territory under the responsibility of the archduke and five dukes appointed by an art competition between all the marquis, taking place during a blood moon (eclipse), whose judge is the lord himself. The competition consists of a vast art contest where only the five best in all fields will be chosen. Five dukes are chosen to rule the five dukedoms according to the five axes of the vampiric religion: the archduchy corresponds to blood, then come the dukedoms of chaos, rage, occult and will. The enclave of the void, located on the northern coast, is an enclave in the territory of the will, a seditious and extremely violent movement that has among other things the extermination or enslavement of all non-vampires; even for the most extreme, the destruction of the world. To become a marquis, one must be a count, or son of a marquis, who does not inherit it by birthright and must deserve it. During the new moons (which arrive only twice a year) an art competition is organised to be able to pass from count to marquis. To become a marquis, the count must present only one form of art, it is enough for the jury to pronounce a positive verdict, so in theory he can have as many marquis as there were counts. However, the entry fee for counts in the competition is based on blood, i.e. strength, the sons of Marquises are exempt. Counts, on the other hand, are only chosen by force and the right of blood, it is a fixed nobility, although a viscount can hope to obtain the title by gratitude for good and loyal service. The viscounts are chosen by the local count from among the barons, and sometimes the untitled people, and administer the towns and enforce law and order. The barons are elected by the inhabitants of a village to become its administrator, through duels of strength and votes by oral ballot.

Culture

the Rakri culture is focussed around the blood (lineage and conquest, the religion and the actual magical power of the race) and arts (all of them are extremely important, as they also take part of their magical power). They like floating castles and gothic architectures.